Working of depts, officials: Online feedback system launched in 10 districts

LAHORE: An online public feedback system developed by the Punjab Information and Analysis Unit was put to operation in 10 districts of the province on Wednesday to accurately monitor provision of public services in five sectors.

The system was ordered by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who had constituted a committee under Implementation and Coordination Secretary Rashid Mahmood. The committee members include Punjab Information and Technology Board Chairman Javaid Ghani, Gujranwala DCO Nabil Awan and former Jhang DCO Zubair Kurshid Bhatti.

The system has been made operational in Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Muzaffargarh, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh.

It would cover registration of properties in urban areas of these districts, pension cases of school teachers, medico-legal cases, provision of free medicines in all emergency wards and all surgical procedures done at public hospitals.

Under the system, service providers of all the five areas of operations — DO registrations, doctors providing the three services and officials handling the pension cases — would fill in forms giving basic information about the citizens seeking such services, along with their telephone numbers.

This information would be put online and after random sampling, five per cent of the selected citizens would be contacted on telephone to check whether they were satisfied with the services they were provided or not.

Since corruption is reportedly rampant at the DDO Registration offices, a field survey of five per cent of the selected citizens who were involved in the registration of property would also be conducted. This information would also be put online for comparing it with the first mode of feedback.

Officials said the system was put to operation in every tehsil of these districts, hoping it would help the provincial government draw a clear picture of the performance of officials and departments.

They said the chief minister had made it clear that those found guilty of misconduct or corruption through this online monitoring system based on public response would be taken to task.

Exploitation of retired school teachers seeking pension and misclassification of property and fraud in property sale had been among major areas of concern which the government could not address despite serious efforts. The new system would help the authorities get direct and constant feedback on public servants and departments, they said.

The officials said after assessing the systems’ impact on governance and masses in the 10 districts, it would be introduced in the entire province. – Intikhab Hanif
Source: Dawn
Date:6/17/2010